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Microsoft has stopped supporting Windows XP, which means that if you're using it you'll need to be a little more cautious than normal. Any exploits in XP discovered by hackers will no longer be patched, so connecting to the internet is much more dangerous on XP than it used to be. That being said, Windows XP is still perfectly usable as long as you are mindful of the risks.

Create an account. When you start Windows XP for the first time, you will be prompted to create a user account. This account will store all of your files and documents. In XP, there are administrator accounts which can perform advanced tasks like installing software, and regular users, who can use programs but cannot make changes to the system. The first user you create will be an administrator.

Get familiar with the desktop. The desktop is your primary way of interacting with Windows. The desktop can contain shortcuts to programs, folders, system tools, or any other file you want to put on it. In the lower-left corner, you'll see the Start menu. Clicking this will allow you to quickly access your installed programs, connected devices, computer settings and more. In the bottom-right corner of the screen you'll see the System Tray, which houses the clock and a list of running programs designated by icons.

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Connect to a network. In order to get online and browse the internet, you'll need to connect Windows XP to a network. If you are connecting to your network via Ethernet, plug it into your computer and Windows XP should connect automatically.

If you are connecting wirelessly, right-click the wireless network icon in the System Tray. You may have to expand the list of icons by clicking the "▲" button.

Select the wireless network you want to connect to. Enter in the password if it is a secured network.

Update Windows XP. Even though Windows XP is no longer being updated, you'll still want to ensure that you have all of the updates available. If you installed an older copy, make sure to download the latest Service Packs (SP3 was the last released), as well as all the available security and stability updates.

Create a limited account. Since Windows XP is no longer being updated, any exploits found will not be fixed. This means XP is now an unsecure operating system, and you should take every precaution when using it to help prevent getting attacked. Creating a limited account and primarily using it will prevent malware from performing administrator actions if you get infected.[1]XResearch source

This means you will need to log into your administrator account any time you want to install or uninstall software, or make changes to the system settings. It's a pain, but one of the best ways to ensure that your computer is secure as possible.

Install a new browser. Dump IE as soon as possible, as the Windows XP version is no longer updated and is not secure. Two of the most popular and secure browser replacements include Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.

Consider not connecting your XP computer to the internet at all. It will be inconvenient, but your chance of getting infected will go way down (you will still be vulnerable to threats from USB drives).

Install a new antivirus program. Some versions of Windows XP will come bundled with an antivirus program trial. Uninstall this first, and then download and install a new antivirus program. This is incredibly important if you plan on spending any amount of time connected to the internet.

Keep your other programs up to date. Since Windows XP will no longer be updated, it's important to ensure that your programs are running their latest version to reduce the chance of exploits. Some programs will check for updates automatically, while others will release updated versions on their websites.

If you are using Office 2003, you'll want to upgrade as soon as possible. Like Windows, it is now longer being updated, and Office is a notoriously exploitable program. Either update to a newer version, or install an alternative like Apache OpenOffice

Uninstall unused programs. Managing your installed programs will help keep your computer performing well. You can uninstall programs using the "Add/Remove Programs" tool in the Control Panel. Remove any programs that you do not use.

Create shortcuts to make finding folder easier. You can create shortcuts which you can place on your desktop or in other locations that can let you access files, folders, and programs without having to dig through your computer to find them.

Perform regular system maintenance. There are a variety of maintenance tasks that you should perform on occasion to keep your computer running in peak shape. Most of these processes can be set and then forgotten about, and the maintenance will occur in the background.

Defragment your disk. As you move files around and add and remove programs, pieces of files will get left behind, increasing the time it takes your hard drive to access information. Defragmenting will sort these bits so that your hard drive can read faster.

Use the Disk Cleanup tool. This tool scours your computer for old files and registry entries that are no longer used. The tool can free up a significant amount of hard disk space.

Learn how to boot into Safe Mode. If you ever have a problem with Windows XP, booting into Safe Mode can be a very important step for troubleshooting. Safe Mode only loads the essential files that Windows needs to run, allowing you to remove entrenched virus or fix corrupted settings.

Control what programs start with Windows XP. Programs have a tendency to attach themselves to your startup process, and if you have too many, your computer can slow to a crawl whenever Windows boots. MSConfig is a utility that allows you to see which programs are loading when Windows starts, and disable any programs you choose.

Back up your data regularly. Since Windows XP is not being updated any more, there's a good chance that it will become fairly unstable. This, along with the increased threats from viruses, means that you should always have backups of your important files and documents. You can backup your important files manually, or use a backup programs to automate the task.

You will need an external storage solution, such as an external hard drive or a cloud storage service, in order to back up your data.

Update to a newer operating system. Windows XP will only get less and less secure. The sooner you can upgrade to a more recent OS, the more secure you'll be. You can upgrade to Windows 10, 8.1, or 7, or you can switch to Linux. The benefits of Linux include increased security and a free pricetag, but it can be a little more difficult for new users to get a hang of.

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wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 32 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 33,629 times.